Sports

Smith's diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown on a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday.
Minnesota players score three goals as U.S. wins World Juniors opener
Minnesotan Will Zellers scored twice as the United States beat Germany 6-3 in the teams’ opening game of the World Junior Championships on Friday in St. Paul. Fellow Minnesotan Max Plante also scored a goal.
Minnesota is center of the hockey universe as World Juniors tournament begins
The puck drops Friday on the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship, taking place in the Twin Cities. Ten countries have sent teams to Minnesota, including some of the best under-20 men’s hockey players in the world.
Minnesota looks to stretch bowl winning streak to 9 when it faces New Mexico in Rate Bowl
 In an era of bowl opt outs, Minnesota still finds plenty of reasons to embrace the postseason experience, even when the chase for a national championship ended long ago. The Gophers are pretty good at it, too, heading into Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico on an eight-game bowl winning streak.
Vikings beat Lions 23-10 with six turnovers
The Detroit Lions have gifted the division rival Green Bay Packers a spot in the playoffs.
Seven Minnesotans will skate for the U.S. in the upcoming Junior World Ice Hockey Championships
Team USA will return four Minnesota players from last year’s gold medal squad. Defensemen Logan Hensler of Woodbury and Adam Kleber of Chaska will return to represent the United States, as will forwards Max Plante of Hermantown and Brodie Ziemer of Chaska.
Steven Stamkos scores in OT to give the Predators a 3-2 win over the Wild
Steven Stamkos scored 53 seconds into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Stamkos got a step on his defender as he raced down the slot, and Erik Haula found him with a pass that Stamkos deflected past goalie Filip Gustavsson.